Handle inserting device

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for automatically placing an insert into a sheet having a slit therein, wherein the slit is sufficiently opened to permit at least partial entry of the insert into the slit, and relative movement between the sheet and the insert is utilized to place the insert in the desired relationship within the slit.

United States Patent 191 Kleinhaut et al.

[4 June 25, 1974 [5 HANDLE INSER'lING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Samuel Kleinhaut, Forest Hills;

Herbert Willy Thiel, Maspeth, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Bagprint Ltd., Long Island City,

Utah

[22] Filed: Sept. 15, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 289,358

[52] US. Cl. 93/8 WA, 93/35 H, 93/53 LP [51] Int. Cl B31b 1/86 [58] Field of Search 93/35 H, 8 WA, 8 R, 35 R,

[ References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,266,053 8/1966 Rochla 93/8 WA 3,412,651 11/1968 Thibault 93/8 WA 3,45l,3l6 6/1969 3,521,530 7/1970 l-lartmann 93/8 WA Primary ExaininerGranville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bierman & Bierman [57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for automatically placing an insert into a sheet having a slit therein, wherein the slit is sufficiently opened to permit at least partial entry of the insert into the slit, and relative movement between the sheet and the insert is utilized to place the insert in the desired relationship within the slit.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUNZSIGM Sam 5 0F 5 1 HANDLE INSERTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for placing an insert into a sheet having a slit therein and more particularly to theautomatic and continuous insertion of handles or locking devices into carry bags of the type commonly used'in department and other retail stores.

Many products require the insertion of handles or looking devices into slits provided therein for this pur-. pose. Paper bags, cardboard boxes and reclosable folders are examples of such products. During the manufacture of these products, the handle or closing device is inserted into one side of the product in order to mount the insert on the product and prepare it for use. The ultimate user can then simply pull the insert through a second slit on the other side of the product to close the product.

Ithas proved difficult to automate the process by which the insert is initially placed into the product and therefore, up until now, this process has generally been performed manually. Manual operations such as this are costly as they require a great deal of labor, time and an inordinate amount of space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention encompasses method and apparatus for automatically inserting a handle or locking device, usually made of plastic, into a paper bag or cardboard box which has already been provided with a plurality of slits, at least one of which is adapted to accept the insert duringthe insertion operation of the invention.

Although this application specifically relates to the insertion of handles into paper bags, it is intended to cover all insertion operations regardless of the type of insert or the kind of material into which the insert is placed.

In accordance withthe present invention, apparatus is provided for carrying out a method of insertinga handle into a bag having a slit provided for this purpose. Means are provided for opening the slit to permit at least partial entry of the handles therein. Relative movement between the bag and the handle is utilized to place the handle in the desired relationship within the slit.

In its preferred form, the apparatus of the invention is adapted for the continuous and automatic insertion of handles in a assembly line operation. Storage for the handles and means for feeding a single handle to the mouth of the slit after ejection from the storage compartment are also provided. In addition, means for terminating the relative movement between the handle and the bag once the handle has been appropriately positioned is provided. The entire operation can be used with a variety of different types of inserts and at any convenient point in the manufacturing process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings which form a part of this application depict a prefered embodiment of the apparatus used to perform the method disclosed herein. Like numerals are used throughout to refer to like parts.

FIG. 1 is a side plan view, partially cutaway, of the apparatus prior to commencement of the insertion operation.

FIG. 2 is a top cutaway view taken along lines 22 of the apparatus shown in, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view along lines 3-3 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side cutaway view showing the apparatus as a handle enters into an opened slit.

FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view showing a portion of the apparatus as it positions and releases the handle.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the bag after insertion of a handle.

FIG. 7 is a side cutaway view of the bag of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the apparatus prior to commencement of the insertion operation. In FIG. 1, numeral 24 denotes a hollow housing which surrounds a storage compartment or bin 22 into which a stack of handles 10 has been placed. For convenience, the edges of only some of these handles have been shown. The handles will exit from the bottom of bin 22, one at a time, and be inserted into a slit in bag 18 as fully described below.

FIG. 6 shows a handle 10 after insertion in a bag 18. Handle 10 comprises a grip portion 12 and a base portion 14. Flanges 13 form a portion of the base 14 and span a distance greater, than the width of the slit 16 in bag 18. Base portion 14 also has a central portion 17 which, with the remainder of the base, including flanges 13, will remain on the top surface of the bag so that the handle can not be pulled completely through slit 16.

During the insertion process, grip portion 12 will be pivoted below the plane in which the base portion rests and be inserted in slit 16. After insertion, base portion 14 will be located in a plane'parallel to the plane of the bag and adjacent to the top surface thereof. After insertion, grip portion 12 will be positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the bag, as shown in FIG. 7.

Two protrusions 15, each located on the outer surface of the grip portion 12 near one of the junctions be-.

tween base portion 14' and grip portion 12, are provided. Because of their shape, protrusions 15 will allow grip portion 12 to pass through slit 16 in only one direction. Handle 10, once correctly positioned with respect to slit 16, will be retained in this position by the clamp-' ing action of flanges l3 and protrusions 15.

Refering to FIG. 4, rollers 21 and 21a are provided to move bag 18 continuously with respect to housing 24. Placement of rollers 21 and 21a is not critical as long as the necessary tension is maintained on the bag. Tension on the bag produced by rollers 21 and 21a mustbe sufficient to prevent the bag from moving away from the apparatus during the handle insertion operation. The tension on the bag may be created by running theforward set of rollers 21a at a slightly greater rate than the rear rollers 21. Of course, rollers 21, 21a should be placed so as not to interfere with any of the moving part of the apparatus. Rollers 21, 21a may be rotated by any conventional means. a

As best seen in FIG. 1, two guides 39 are provided to prevent bag 18 from moving towards housing 24. Each guide 39 has a shaft 60 and a runner 61 affixedly mounted thereon. Each runner 61 extends under one side of housing 24 and maintains bag 18 at a position which does not interfere with the moving parts of the apparatus. The tension on bag 18 produced by rollers 21, 21a and the runners 61 of guides 39 will retain the bag in the correct spatial relationship with respect to the apparatus during the handle insertion operation.

The shafts 60 of guides 39 are adapted to fit within the recess of a clamps 62, and set screws 63 serve as a means for adjusting the height of guides 39. By simply loosening set screw 63, shaft 60 can be moved within the recess of clamp 62 until the desired relationship is attained Set screw 63 is then tightened and the height of guide 39 is thus properly adjusted to perform its intended function.

FIG. 2 shows the top of bin 22 with handles therein. A handleguide 11 is positioned along the edge of each of the side walls of bin 22. Handle guide 11 serves to hold the flanges 13 of the handles 10 in correct position as the handles move down bin 22, toward the ejection point.

The handles 10 are moved down the bin 22 and are ejected by the aid of a positive ejection force. The means forproducing this force is most clearly seen in FIG. 3. Two rods 38 are provided along the rear wall of storage bin 22. Each of these rods is vertically displaceable a distance slightly greater than the width of a handle. Downward displacement is produced by means of a spring. A compression spring 21 is provided at the top of each of rods 38 for this purpose and provides a constant downward force on each of the rods.

Each of the rods 38 is moved upward by means of the action of bar 25 which is connected to the rod by lever 17, as shown in FIG. 1. The upward motion of lever 17 displaces rod 38 upward thereby compressing spring 21. Lever 17 is moved upward after each handle is ejected from the storage bin 22, as explained more fully below. The downward force produced by spring 21 on rod 38 is therefore present during each ejection and the mechanism is returned to its uppermost position between ejection.

Elements 28 serve to communicate the downward force applied to rod 38 to the handles 10. One of these elements 28 is fixedly mounted on each of the rods 38 by means of a brace 29. Each of these elements 28 will therefore undergo the same up and down motion as rod 38. Element 28 is made of a flexible material and has an outwardly curved tip as shown in FIG. 3. During the downward portion of the cycle, the tip of element 28 contacts the top surface of the edge of one of the handles and produces a positive downward force on all the handles 10 below the contacted handle. This force facilitates ejection of the first handle in the stack at the proper time. After the handle has been ejected, the entire stack moves down the bin 22 a distance equal to the width of the ejected handle. Rod 38 is now moved upward as described above. The curvature and flexibility of element 28 allows the tip to move longitudinally with respect to the handle adjacent it at this point and to thereby reposition itself on the top surface of handle which is next in succession. Rod 38 is again urged downward by spring 21 and the ejection force is again applied to the stack. Occasionally, the handles 10 stick together, thereby tending to hamper the usefulness element 28. To eliminate this adhesion problem, seperating means are provided above element 28. As most clearly seen in FIG. 3, the separating means comprises a shaft 35, means for rotating the shaft 35 through a desired arc and a cam 36 having a pointed cam surface. Cam 36 is positioned to contact the rear edges of the handles as they pass through bin 22. j

The means for rotating the shaft can be any conventional means, shown here as a fly wheel 41, roller 37 and spring 23 attached to shaft 35. The shaft 25 may be bent, if desired, to acco'modate rotating means located on the side of the housing 24, as shown in FIG. 3. The up and down movement of the cam 36 tends to separate the handles as they progress towards element 28. Although the motion of cam 3.6 need not be synchronized with the movement of handles downwardly to break the adhesion between handles, such synchronization can be provided if desired.

As described above, element 28 provides a positive force urging handles 10 towards the bottom of bin 22. At the bottom of bin 22 the handles are ejected one at a time by the action slidable member 30.

Member 30 is provided with a lip portion 31 upon which the base of a handle will rest immediately after ejection. Ejection can only occur when member 30 is in its initial position. As member 30 travels forward, the

body of member 30 will cover the bottom of storage bin 22 and prevent any other handles from being ejected. The lip portion 31 of slidable member 30 is shaped to hold the base of handle 10. The base of the ejected handle is retained on lip portion 31 throughout the forward movement of member 30.

Member 30 is slidable between an initial position, at which ejection occurs (FIG. 1), and a forward position, in which the grip portion 12 opens and enters a small distance into a slit on bag 18 (FIG. 4). The forward movement of member 30 is guided by a rail (not shown) beneath housing 24 and accomplished by forces applied by the movement of a member 27.

Member 27 is pivotable' through an are by shaft 56 which is connected to any conventional'means for producing this motion, such as a cam and motor arrangement (not shown). The arc traveled by member 27 is sufficient to cause the required sliding movement in member 30. Member 30 is attached to member 27 by means of a traveling connection formed by a shaft 33 and a slot 43.

As seen in FIG. 1, bar 25 is also attached to member 27 by means of a traveling connection comprised of shaft 50 and a slot 51. The movement of rod 38 and therefore element 28 is syncronized with the movement of member 30 in this manner to provide a downward force on the handles only when member 30 is in the initial position.

Shortly after member 30 has completed its forward motion, slit 16 on a bag 18 nears the bottom of member 26, which has a v shaped cross section, as seen in FIG. 1. A top view of this member appears in FIG. 2. Because of the shape of member 26, the forward movement of member 30 pivots the tip of grip protion 12 of the ejected handle beneath the nadir 40 of member 26. Member 26 is made of flexible material and is held under tension between bag 18 and housing 24 such that a downward force is exerted on the handle by nadir 40. Nadir 40 urges the tip of grip portion 12 down to separate the lips of the slit as the slit passes under nadir 40. The lips are parted sufficiently to permit entrance of the tip of grip portion 12 into the slit.

As seen in FIG. 4, only the tip of grip portion 12 has entered the opened slit at this point. Finger 32, positionecl below the bag 18, will catch the edge of the grip portion 12, which has previously entered slit 16, as the bag 18 continues to move past the housing 24.

Finger 32 is pivotable about shaft 53 on base 54. However, the movement of finger 32 is restricted by stop 55 and tension spring 34. The tension on spring 34 is adjusted to have a force slightly less than the force on handle caused by the movement of bag 18. As the bag 18 moves, finger 32 will retain the handle in stationary relationship with housing 24 causing relative movement between the bag and handle. This relative movement will cause slit 16 to move down grip portion 12 and over protrusions 15 until it restsagainst flange 13. At this point, the force on the handle will be greater then the tension of spring 34, finger 32 will pivot out of the way of the handle, and release the grip portion 12. See FIG. 5.

Prior to the pivoting of finger 32, slidable member 30 returns to its initial position and the lip portion 31 is pulled from under the base portion of the handle'thus releasing the handle from member 30. Finger 32 pivots to release the handle and bag 18 withthe handle inserted therein travels to the next station. The apparatus is then ready to repeat the process as soon as a new bag is in place.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications may be made which are not specifically described herein but which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such variations and modifications which fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for automatically placing an insert into a sheet having a slit comprising means for urging said insert to at least partially enter said slit, and means for relatively moving said sheet and insert with respect to each other to cause said insert to further enter said slit, said urging means comprising means for positioning said insert to open said slit sufficiently to permit partial entry of said insert therein, said means for positioning comprising means for 6 feeding an insert to said positioning means, i said feeding-means comprising means for storing inserts prior to feeding, said urging means further comprising means for exerting a force on at least one lip of'the slit such that said lip is opened, said force exerting means being a flexible member held under tension such that said tension force is exerted on said insert to part the lips of the slit.

2. The apparatus specified in claim 1 wherein said member has substantially a v shaped cross section.

3. The apparatus specified in claim 2 wherein said positioning means further comprisesa slidable member adapted to accept an insert from said feeding means and slide to a position at which the slit is opened and the insert is at least partially entered into the opened slit.

4. The apparatus specified in claim 2 wherein said means for relatively moving comprises a plurality of rotatable rollers for moving the sheets with respect to the insert and means for rotating said rollers.

5. The apparatus specified in claim 4 further comprising means for terminating said relative movement when the insert has fully entered into the slit.

6. The apparatus specified in claim 5 wherein said means for terminating relative movement comprises a movable finger, said finger movable between a first position in which the insert is held stationary with respect to said storing means and a second position in which the insert is released.

7. The apparatus specified in claim 6 wherein said feeding means further comprises means for separating the inserts in the storing means.

8. The apparatus specified in claim 7 wherein said separating means comprises a rotable cam positioned to contact the edges of the inserts in the storing means and means for rotating said cam.

9. The apparatus specified in claim 8 wherein said slidable element has a lip thereon, said lip is formed to hold an insert as said insert is fed from said feeding means. 

1. Apparatus for automatically placing an insert into a sheet having a slit comprising means for urging said insert to at least partially enter said slit, and means for relatively moving said sheEt and insert with respect to each other to cause said insert to further enter said slit, said urging means comprising means for positioning said insert to open said slit sufficiently to permit partial entry of said insert therein, said means for positioning comprising means for feeding an insert to said positioning means, said feeding means comprising means for storing inserts prior to feeding, said urging means further comprising means for exerting a force on at least one lip of the slit such that said lip is opened, said force exerting means being a flexible member held under tension such that said tension force is exerted on said insert to part the lips of the slit.
 2. The apparatus specified in claim 1 wherein said member has substantially a ''''v'''' shaped cross section.
 3. The apparatus specified in claim 2 wherein said positioning means further comprises a slidable member adapted to accept an insert from said feeding means and slide to a position at which the slit is opened and the insert is at least partially entered into the opened slit.
 4. The apparatus specified in claim 2 wherein said means for relatively moving comprises a plurality of rotatable rollers for moving the sheets with respect to the insert and means for rotating said rollers.
 5. The apparatus specified in claim 4 further comprising means for terminating said relative movement when the insert has fully entered into the slit.
 6. The apparatus specified in claim 5 wherein said means for terminating relative movement comprises a movable finger, said finger movable between a first position in which the insert is held stationary with respect to said storing means and a second position in which the insert is released.
 7. The apparatus specified in claim 6 wherein said feeding means further comprises means for separating the inserts in the storing means.
 8. The apparatus specified in claim 7 wherein said separating means comprises a rotable cam positioned to contact the edges of the inserts in the storing means and means for rotating said cam.
 9. The apparatus specified in claim 8 wherein said slidable element has a lip thereon, said lip is formed to hold an insert as said insert is fed from said feeding means. 